U.S. District Judge Monti Belot set an April 28 date for a status conference in the case of Terry Loewen, a 58-year-old avionics technician facing terrorism-related charges. Such proceedings are routinely used to keep the judge apprised of progress in the litigation.

Loewen was arrested Dec. 13 after allegedly trying to bring a van filled with inert explosives onto the tarmac at the airport, where he worked. The arrest followed a months-long federal sting operation.

He has pleaded not guilty to attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempting to use an explosive device to damage property and attempting to give material support to al-Qaida.